Alabama

2010 election heating up in Baldwin County

BAY MINETTE, Ala. -- The 2010 election season will get under way in March with a special sales tax referendum and heat up from there as the June primary elections approach.

On March 23, voters will go to the polls to cast ballots on a proposed temporary sales and use tax to benefit the Baldwin County Public Schools System. The 1-percent tax, if approved, will end after a period of three years.

Baldwin County commissioners in December unanimously agreed to put the tax before voters to bail out local schools. Estimates indicate the tax would generate about $25 million a year during the three-year period.

The ballot will also contain a proposed amendment to the starting date of the Baldwin County revenue commissioner's term of office.

The deadline to register to vote in the referendum or to update voter information is March 12, according to the Board of Registrars.

Hopefuls for the Republican and Democratic party primary elections set for June 1 have until April 2 to submit their names as candidates to local party chairmen. The party heads then have until April 7 to certify them to either the secretary of state or the Baldwin Probate Office, according to a Probate Court official.

All County Commission seats are up for election this year, as are the sheriff and district attorney positions, Districts 4 and 7 on the Baldwin County school board, and the circuit judge Place 4 position, according to the probate official.

Baldwin County Republican Party Chairman John E. Stetzinger said a number of people have declared their intentions to run but he hasn't received paperwork to complete the qualification processyet. He reiterated that potential candidates have until April 2 to qualify.

Faye Earnest, chairwoman of the Baldwin County Democratic Party, also said last week that no potential candidates had qualified with her yet.

On the Republican ticket, incumbent Baldwin County Sheriff Huey Mack last month announced his plans to run for a second term.

Those who have announced intentions to make a bid for the Baldwin County Commission include GOP incumbents Frank Burt in District 1, Ed Bishop in District 2, Wayne Gruenloh in District 3 and Charles Gruber in District 4. Republican challengers include Daniel Dyas seeking the District 2 seat and Tucker Dorsey running for the District 3 office, according to Stetzinger.

Candidates for district attorney and other state-level offices must qualify through the Secretary of State's office rather than through the local party heads and probate office.

Those who have announced plans to seek the prosecutor's spot on the Republican ballot include incumbent Judy A. Newcomb, Loxley prosecutor Russell Watson, Assistant State Attorney General Hallie Dixon and local attorney and businessman David Green.

Many state offices are up for election this year, including governor and lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state and U.S. legislative seats, and others, according the secretary of state's Web site.

Residents have until 10 days before each election to register or update their voting information, according to an official with the Board of Registrars.